Basha people

Basha people belong to a branch of the Miao ethnic minority in Guizhou province and have a reputation as the last tribe of gunman. Almost every man above the age of 14 carries a gun and a knife, which they regard as a sign of bravery and honor.

Their ancestor, they believe, is Emperor Chiwu, a legendary warrior who engaged in fighting with the Yellow Emperor. They have spoken �C not written �C language.

The inhabitants share a worship of trees as they believe their life has been blessed by the God of Trees. In addition, most major festivals and events are held in the trees. If people get married, the witness is two intertwining trees.

When a baby is born, the elders will plant a tree for them. When people die, a tree will be cut down and made into a coffin which continues to stay with their owners. The tome is quite austere, with only a new tree planted on the ground beneath which the dead are buried.

There are less than 1,000 people living in the tribe now, but their customs, thanks to the surrounding mountains, have remained what they were thousands of years ago -- a trait which has become more valuable in an increasingly modern society.

Ewenki People

When Christmas comes, Santa Claus would fly around the world in a sleigh pulled by magical flying reindeer. In the depths of the primeval forest in northeast China, reindeer abound, as does a semi-nomadic tribe that is regarded as the last tribe of hunters �C the Ewenki people.

Since they have to hunt and feed the reindeer, they have no fixed houses. They use pine wood to pitch a tent, called Cuoluozi, as they move around in the forests.

According to their tradition, people in the same clan cannot get married and they have to choose someone from other clans or tribes. When people decide to tie the knot, the girl has to flee to the boy��s Cuoluozi; the old women will braid her hair into two pigtails, as opposed to the eight pigtails before they are married.